Magnetically alignable swivel caster

ABSTRACT

A swivel caster ( 1 ) including a support plate ( 2 ) for connection to a container, and including a caster mount ( 3 ) having a caster ( 6 ) rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis (H). The caster mount ( 3 ) is connected to the support plate ( 2 ) rotatable about a vertical rotation axis (V). At least one first magnet ( 15   a ) is connected to the caster mount ( 3 ) and at least one second magnet ( 15   b ) is connected to the support plate ( 2 ). The magnets ( 15   a,    15   b ) are magnetized and disposed so as to be mutually parallel including a gap in such in an alignment of the caster mount outside a defined basic alignment (G) of the caster mount ( 3 ) the magnets ( 15   a,    15   b ) interact such that the caster mount ( 3 ) swings into basic alignment (G). The caster mount ( 3 ) has a cover plate ( 11 ) which collectively with the saucer ( 9 ) of the support plate ( 2 ) and with the mounting plate ( 7 ) encloses an intermediate space for the magnets ( 15   a,    15   b ). The cover plate ( 11 ) has two legs ( 17   a,    17   b ) which extend in the direction of the horizontal rotation axis (H) of the caster ( 6 ). Each leg ( 17   a,    17   b ) has a free end ( 18   a,    18   b ) remote from the cover plate ( 11 ) is connected to the caster mount ( 3 ) via a connector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 national phase application of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/EP2017/052409, filed Feb. 3, 2017,which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to EuropeanPatent Application No. 16154243.6, filed Feb. 4, 2016, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a swivel caster, including a support plate forconnection to a container, and further including a caster mount having acaster which is rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis, wherein thecaster mount is connected to the support plate so as to be rotatableabout a vertical rotation axis, wherein at least one first magnet isconnected to the caster mount and at least one second magnet isconnected to the support plate. The magnets are magnetized and disposedso as to be mutually parallel including a gap in such a manner that inan alignment of the caster mount outside a defined basic alignment ofthe caster mount the magnets interact in such a manner that the castermount swings into basic alignment, wherein the caster mount has a coverplate which collectively with the saucer of the support plate andcollectively with the mounting plate encloses an intermediate space forthe magnets.

BACKGROUND

Swivel casters are non-driven support wheels which are capable ofautomatic self-alignment in relation to the current direction ofmovement. They are used, for example, for office chairs, wheel chairs,and shopping trolleys.

A swivel caster of the type mentioned at the outset may also be used fortransport containers. To this end, the swivel caster is attached to acontainer wall on a lower side of the container that faces the floor. Ifand when a container is to be stacked onto an upper side of anothercontainer, the swivel caster is introduced into a clearance on the upperside. The swivel caster is held in a form-fitting manner in theclearance, and is locked against pivoting and also against rolling up toa specific angle of inclination of an upper side of the container. Inorder for the casters to be able to be introduced into the clearance,the casters have to be inwardly pivoted to a specified alignment. Inthis alignment it ought to be possible for a stop which is attached tothe caster to be actuated, so that the container given certaincircumstances does not roll out of the clearance, for example when saidcontainer during transport is under the influence of an external force.Since pivoting of the swivel caster has to be performed manually,stacking of the boxes is time consuming and moreover associated with acertain risk of injury.

DE 20 2015 101 804 U1 discloses a swivel caster with the aforementionedproperties. The swivel caster includes a cover plate which bears on themounting plate of the caster mount on the periphery by way of twomutually opposite webs. In this way, the cover plate is connected to thesupport plate within the caster mount adjacent to the rotation mechanismfor a rotation around the vertical axis. Due to the limited space withinthe caster mount, the possiblilities to connect the support plate to thecover plate are restricted. Equally, the caster mount provides arestricted space for rotation means. Furthermore, the connection of themounting plate is difficult.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a swivelcaster in which the disadvantages described above may be avoided, and inwhich in particular to provide more space for the rotation mechanismwithin the caster mount while maintaining the cover plate be adequatelyfixed to other components of the swivel caster. Moreover, it is theobject of the invention to provide a swivel caster in which the coverplate can be fixed in an easier way.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the featuresdescribed below and illustrated by the appended figures.

SUMMARY

The swivel caster according to the present invention is characterized inthat the cover plate has two legs which extend in the direction of thehorizontal rotation axis of the caster, wherein each leg in each case atthat free end thereof that is remote from the cover plate is connectedto the caster mount via a connector. As the cover plate is connected tothe caster mount in the region of the horizontal rotation axis of thecaster, there is more space for the rotation mechanism providing arotation around the vertical axis. The cover plate can be easilyfastened together with the caster to the caster mount, preferably by asingle connector. As the cover plate can be connected together with thecaster, the structure of the swivel caster is simplified, too.Furthermore, using the steady connector of the caster has the advantagethat the cover plate is connected to the caster mount in a stable way.

The swivel caster automatically swings into a specific basic alignment,so that the containers may be stacked with a significantly lowertemporal effort than before and with a reduced risk of injury.

The magnets here are disposed in relation to one another and configuredin such a manner that the magnets in the basic alignment of the castermount attract one another at maximum force and following rotation, inparticular by 180° in a common plane, repel one another at maximumforce. Magnetizing in this manner shortens the time for the caster toswing in.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, in basic alignment ofthe caster mount the first magnet on that side thereof that faces thesecond magnet and extends so as to be transverse to the verticalrotation axis of the caster mount has a north pole and a south pole incontact therewith, and the second magnet on that face thereof that facesthe first magnet and extends so as to be transverse to the verticalrotation axis has a north pole, which is parallel with the verticalrotation axis and opposite to the south pole of the first magnet, and asouth pole which is parallel with the vertical rotation axis andopposite the north pole of the first magnet. This arrangement of themagnets makes it possible for the swivel caster to be able to swing into a single desired alignment within a few seconds.

In particular, each magnet is formed from in each case two part-magnetswhich are disposed beside one another so as to be perpendicular to thevertical rotation axis, wherein the disposal of the north pole and ofthe south pole of the part-magnets extends in the direction of thevertical rotation axis, and a part-magnet in relation to the otherpart-magnet is disposed so as to be rotationally offset by 180° about anaxis which is perpendicular to the vertical rotation axis. On accountthereof, no specially manufactured magnets have to be used, so that theswivel caster may be manufactured in a cost-effective manner.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that thesupport plate is fixedly connected to a saucer, and a mounting plateforms a base area of the caster mount, wherein the mounting plate isrotatably mounted between the saucer and the support plate. A designembodiment of this type enables that the bearing is disposed to as to beprotected from external influences.

In particular, the first magnet is disposed on a side of the cover platethat faces the intermediate space, and the second magnet is disposed ona side of the saucer of the support plate that faces the intermediatespace. Here, there is a gap which is enclosed between the two magnets.This feature facilitates assembly or disassembly, respectively, forexample for maintenance works.

Furthermore, a stop for the swivel caster is preferably provided,wherein the stop in a blocked position interacts in a form-fittingand/or force-fitting manner with the caster and with the rotary jointwhich connects the caster mount and the support plate so as to berotatable about the vertical rotation axis, and in an unblocked positionreleases the caster and the disc joint. Thus, the stop during stackinginteracts with the clearance, since both collectively block the casterfrom pivoting, using dissimilar mechanisms. Additionally, the stopblocks the caster from moving about the horizontal rotation axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantageous design embodiments of the invention may be derivedfrom the following description of the figures. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a swivel caster;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a part-region of a swivel caster;

FIG. 3a shows a cross section through a magnet assembly in a firstalignment;

FIG. 3b shows a cross section through a magnet assembly in a secondalignment;

FIG. 4a shows a first view of a cover plate;

FIG. 4b shows a second view of a cover plate;

FIG. 4c shows a third view of a cover plate;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a potential embodiment of a swivelcaster according to the invention;

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a further potential embodiment of aswivel caster according to the invention;

FIG. 7a shows a view on a swivel caster in the basic alignment;

FIG. 7b shows a view on a swivel-caster in a first adjusted basicalignment and

FIG. 7c shows a view on a swivel caster in a second adjusted basicalignment.

In the various figures of the drawing identical parts are alwaysprovided with identical reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the context of the following description it is claimed that theinvention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and thus not toall or a plurality of features of combinations of features described;rather each individual part-feature of the/each exemplary embodiment mayalso be relevant to the subject matter of the invention individually andalso in combination with arbitrary features of another exemplaryembodiment when detached from all other part-features described in thecontext therewith.

A swivel caster 1 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. The swivelcaster 1 includes a support plate 2 which is rotatably connected to acaster mount 3, for example via a rotary joint, for example in the formof a disc joint. The support plate 2 here may be configured so as to beintegral with a container, or be fastened to the latter via a connector.A caster 6 which is movable about a horizontal rotation axis H isfastened to the caster mount 3. The horizontal rotation axis H runsparallel with a plane of extent of the support plate 2. The caster mount3 in relation to the support plate 2 is rotatable about a rotation axiswhich forms a quiescent rotation point and which runs in a transversemanner to the horizontal rotation axis H of the caster. The formerrotation axis will be referred to as the vertical rotation axis Vhereunder, and forms a normal of the plane of extent of the supportplate 2. The caster mount 3 in relation to the support plate 2 ispreferably configured so as to be rotatable by a full rotation, that isto say by 360°, about the vertical rotation axis V.

In particular, both the horizontal as well as the vertical rotation axisV run through the caster mount 3, wherein the caster mount 3 inparticular encloses those components which are involved in the event ofrotation about the vertical rotation axis V. The caster mount 3 inparticular includes a housing having an axle portion 4 for rotatablyfastening the caster 6, and a joint portion 5 in which the caster mount3 together with the support plate 2 forms a disc joint. The disc jointis preferably configured in an internal region between two arms whichconnect the joint portion and the axle portion. The internal region isfurthermore delimited by a mounting plate 7 which is interdisposedbetween the caster 6 and the support plate 2, so as to be along thevertical rotation axis V. In particular, the mounting plate 7 forms abase area, that is to say the base of the caster mount 3, which isdirectly involved in the movement in the disc joint.

A cross section of components which are enclosed by the joint portion 5of the caster mount 3 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Here, the mounting plate7 is preferably interdisposed between a saucer 9 and the support plate 2and together with the saucer 9 and the support plate 2 forms part of abearing which enables the caster mount 3 in relation to the supportplate 2 to rotate about the vertical rotation axis V. It is possiblehere, for example, that the saucer 9, the support plate 2, and themounting plate 7 are part of a ball bearing, as is illustrated in FIG.2, for example. In the exemplary embodiment the saucer 9 is connected ina non-movable manner to the support plate 2 via a bolt 10 which runsparallel with the vertical rotation axis V and encloses the verticalrotation axis V.

In order for the disc joint to be protected from, for example, soil ormoisture, a cover plate 11 is interdisposed between the caster 6 and thesaucer 9. One known embodiment of a cover plate 11 in various views isillustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4c . The cover plate 11, together with themounting plate 7 of the caster mount 3 and with the caster mount 3,encloses an intermediate space. Moreover, the cover plate 11 inparticular also has two mutually opposite webs 12 which bear on themounting plate 7 of the caster mount 3. The cover plate 11 on the webs12 is connected to the caster mount 3 by a connector. Furthermore, thecover plate 11 additionally has wings 13 which are in each caseconfigured in a crescent shape between the webs 12 and which are bent inthe direction towards the intermediate space.

Preferably, the mounting plate 7 as a base area of the caster mount 3 isof round design. In particular, the saucer 9 is also configured so as tobe round. Since the caster mount 3 and the saucer 9 (as a part which isfixedly connected to the support plate 2) are rotatable in relation toone another, the caster mount 3 having a round base area andcorrespondingly adapted internal components may be designed so as to beparticularly compact. The support plate 2 may have any shape.

In order for the swivel caster 1 to be automatically aligned, the swivelcastor caster exploits the fact that magnets with non-homonymous(opposite) magnetic poles attract one another and magnets withhomonymous magnetic poles repel one another. The magnets which are poledhomonymously or counter-homonymously here will preferably be disposed inthe joint region 5 of the caster mount 3 and thus so as to beeffectively close to the movable regions.

For example, a first double-pole magnet 15 a having one north pole N andone south pole S may be provided on the saucer 9. Accordingly, the coverplate 11 of the caster mount 3, lying opposite and parallel with thevertical rotation axis V, could have a second magnet 15 b having onenorth pole N and one south pole S. According to the invention, themagnets 15 a, 15 b lie so as to be mutually parallel and preferablyextend perpendicularly to the vertical rotation axis V. Preferably, thefirst magnet 15 a in basic alignment G of the caster mount 3 along thevertical rotation axis V has a north pole N and a south pole S incontact therewith, and the second magnet 15 b adjoins along the verticalrotation axis V of the caster mount 3, having a north pole N and a southpole S in contact therewith. Alternatively, the first magnet 15 a alongthe vertical rotation axis V may have a south pole S and a north pole Nin contact therewith, and the second magnet 15 b may adjoin along thevertical rotation axis V, having a south pole S and a north pole N incontact therewith. One potential assembly for magnets 15 a, 15 b inbasic alignment G is shown in FIG. 3 a.

In basic alignment G the north pole N of the magnet 15 b of the saucer 9attracts the south pole S of the magnet 15 a of the cover plate 11, andthe south pole S of the magnet 15 b of the saucer 9, which lies next tothe north pole N of the magnet 15 b of the saucer 9, attracts the northpole N of the magnet 15 a of the cover plate 11, which lies next to thesouth pole S of the magnet 15 a on the cover plate 11. When the swivelcaster 1 is moved out of basic alignment G, the magnetic fields ofhomonymous magnetic poles mutually overlap, so that the magnetic polesrepel one another. In this way, the swivel caster 1 in relation to thesupport plate 2 always swings back to a single basic alignment G. Inthis basic alignment the caster 6 by way of its running surface isaligned in a specific alignment X. The swivel caster 1 here preferablyswings in when the container having the swivel caster 1 is lifted andthe swivel caster 1 consequently is free to move in the air.

In one potential embodiment of the invention, which is based on theprinciple which has been described above, a magnet 15 b which has anorth pole N and a south pole S is disposed on that side of the saucer 9that faces the internal region of the caster mount 3. A magnet 15 awhich is attached to the cover plate 11 of the caster mount 3 liesopposite the magnet 15 b of the saucer 9 of the support plate 2, so asto be parallel with the vertical rotation axis V. In particular, inbasic alignment G of the swivel caster 1, in each case non-homonymousmagnetic poles of the saucer 9 and of the caster mount 3 lie so as to bemutually opposite and parallel with the vertical rotation axis V. Onaccount thereof it is achieved that the swivel caster 1 assumes aspecific alignment, that is to say the basic alignment G.

In particular, the magnets 15 a, 15 b are disposed and configured insuch a manner that in basic alignment G they attract one another atmaximum fore and following rotation, in particular by 180° in a commonplane, repel one another at maximum force. Alignment of the magnets 15a, 15 b following rotation by 180° is schematically illustrated in FIG.3b . It may be advantageous here for each magnet 15 a, 15 b to have ineach case two part-magnets. In particular, here a part-magnet of thefirst magnet 15 a in basic alignment G along the vertical rotation axisV has a north pole N and a south pole S in contact therewith, adjoinedalong the vertical rotation axis V by a part-magnet of the second magnet15 b having a north pole N and a south pole S in contact therewith.Alternatively, a part-magnet of the first magnet 15 a along the verticalrotation axis V has a south pole S and north pole N in contacttherewith, adjoined along the vertical rotation axis V by a part-magnetof the second magnet 15 b having a south pole S and a north pole N incontact therewith.

The part-magnets preferably form component parts of the magnets 15 a, 15b, wherein at least in each case two part-magnets form a magnet 15 a, 15b. Preferably, the two part-magnets of a magnet 15 a, 15 b aredissimilar magnetic poles. This means that each magnet is in each caseformed from two part-magnets, wherein one part-magnet in relation to theother part-magnet is disposed so as to be rotationally offset by 180°about an axis which is perpendicular to the vertical rotation axis V.

Preferably, the magnets 15 a, 15 b and/or the part-magnets are disposedabout the vertical rotation axis V so as to be point-symmetrical and/ormirror-symmetrical. In order for a torque to be configured about thevertical rotation axis V it may be advantageous for the part-magnets tobe configured about the vertical rotation axis V so as to beasymmetrical. For example, the magnets 15 a, 15 b at the upper sidethereof which in each case faces the other magnet 15 a, 15 b may beconfigured so as to be rectangular. Here, the part-magnets in atransverse manner to the vertical rotation axis V may have side lengthsin such a manner that the latter, when placed against one another so asto be transverse to the vertical rotation axis V, form a cuboid having asquare base area which extends in a transverse manner to the verticalrotation axis V. One exemplary embodiment of an arrangement of this typeis illustrated in FIG. 1.

The mount plate of the known swivel caster has two webs 12 which aredisposed on the peripheries of the cover plate 11 bear on the mountingplate 7 of the caster mount 3, so as to expose the gap between the twomagnets. Since the attraction force of a magnet 15 a, 15 b depends onthe spacing from the magnet 15 a, 15 b, the degree of damping whenswinging into the basic alignment G may be set by the configuration ofthe webs 12. The magnets 15 a, 15 b may comprise iron and/or nickeland/or neodymium.

According to the invention, the cover plate 11 is provided with two legs17 a, 17 b via which the cover plate 11 is connected to the caster mount3 in such a manner that the cover plate 11 is held so as to benon-movable on the caster mount 3. A corresponding embodiment of theswivel caster 1 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The two legs 17 a, 17 b extendin the direction towards the horizontal rotation axis H of the caster 6and by way of the free end 18 a, 18 b thereof which is remote from thecover plate 11 are in each case connected to the caster mount 3. Thecover plate 11 and the legs 17 a, 17 b are preferably configured so asto be integral. In particular, the legs 17 a, 17 b run in a mutuallyparallel manner.

In particular, the cover plate 11 by their legs 17 a, 17 b, at the freeends 18 a, 18 b thereof which are remote from the former, together withthe caster 6 is connected to the caster mount 3 via a common connector.For example, the legs 17 a, 17 b of the cover plate 11, by way of thefree ends 18 a, 18 b thereof, may extend into an intermediate spacebetween the caster 6, in the region of the rotation axis H thereof, andthe caster mount 3. In the region of the horizontal rotation axis H, onthe free ends 18 a, 18 b of the legs 17 a, 17 b and on the caster mount3, there are then, for example, clearances through which the connectorruns along the horizontal rotation axis H of the caster 6 from thecaster mount 3 through a respective free end 18 a, 18 b of the legs 17a, 17 b, and through the caster 6. Particularly preferably, theconnector forms an axle for the caster 6 and is preferably configured inthe form of a screw 20 which is secured by a fastener, for example a nut21, against displacement in the caster mount 3 along the horizontalrotation axis H. The cover plate 11 via this exemplary connector isconnected to the caster mount 3 so as to be rotatable in relation to thehorizontal rotation axis H.

In addition to the connector, the legs 17 a, 17 b are in particularconnected to the caster mount 3 so as to be rotationally fixed inrelation to the horizontal rotation axis H. For example, the free ends18 a, 18 b of the legs 17 a, 17 b may in each case be connected to a lug19 a, 19 b which is bent away at least at a right angle from therespective free end 18 a, 18 b of the legs 17 a, 17 b, wherein therespective lug 19 a, 19 b runs so as to be tangential to the horizontalrotation axis H of the caster 6 and points away from the caster 6.Preferably, the contact side A of the caster mount 3 extends so as to betangential to the horizontal rotation axis H in the same direction asthe respective lug 19 a, 19 b which is placed against the contact sideA. There is thus a form-fit by virtue of contact between the lugs 19 a,19 b and the contact sides A of the caster mount 3, so that the coverplate 11 cannot be rotated about the horizontal rotation axis H of thecasters 6.

In particular, the first magnet 15 a is moved relative to the secondmagnet 15 b a guide of the cover plate 11 and can be fastened immovablyto the cover plate 11 by fastener 26 of the guide. According to apreferred embodiment, the first magnet 15 a, being connected to thecover plate 11, can be rotated about the vertical axis V.

Guide of the cover plate 11 allow the caster 6 to have an adjusted basicalignment A which can be modified flexibly. The adjusted basic alignmentA is set by releasing the first magnet 15 a from the cover plate 11,rotating the magnet 15 a about the vertical axis V in a range which ispredefined by the guide and fastening the first magnet 15 a immovably tothe cover plate 11 by the fastening means 26 of the guide. According toexemplary embodiments, which are shown in the FIGS. 7a to 7c , theadjusted basic alignment A can be set in a range from 0 to 90 degreesrelative to the basic alignment G. E. g., FIG. 7a shows the caster 6being in the basic alignment G so that the adjusted basic alignment Acorresponds to the basic alignment G. Furthermore, FIG. 7b shows thecaster 6 being in an adjusted basic alignment A with an angle of α1=45degrees relative to the basic alignment G and FIG. 7c shows the caster 6being in an adjusted basic alignment A with an angle of α2=90 degreesrelative to the basic alignment G. An adjusted basic alignment A allowsthe swivel caster 1 of a transport container, to which the swivel caster1 is attached, to be included in a clearance of another container beingdirected arbitrarily.

Particularly, the first magnet 15 a is held in a holder 25, where theholder 25 is guided in the guide of the cover plate 11. Preferably, theholder 25 is connected to the guiding means in at least two sections.According to the most preferred embodiment, the holder 25 is held injust two sections in the guiding means of the cover plate 11.Preferably, the holder 25 fixes the first magnet 15 a in a form fittingmanner against movements along the vertical axis V. Especially, it fixesthe first magnet 15 a against movements in the direction of the secondmagnet 15 b.

According to a possible embodiment of the holder 25, which is shown inFIG. 6, the holder 25 consists of a container 31 which includes thefirst magnet 15 a. In the circumference of the vertical axis V, thecontainer 31 has two extensions 30 which each have an aperture 29extending parallel to the vertical axis V through each extension 30. Theholder 25 is connected to the guide by the fastener 26, such as screws,which extend through the guide of the cover plate 11 and the apertures29. If necessary, the fastener 26 can be secured. E. g., if the fastener26 are screws, they can be secured by nuts which are mounted on thescrews so that they abut against the holder 25. If the nuts arereleased, the holder can be moved about the vertical axis V. If the nutsare tightened, the holder 25 is connected immovably to the cover plate11.

The guide is, according to a possible embodiment, slots 27 which extendwithin the cover plate 11 along a circumferential circle of the verticalaxis V. Preferably, the guide includes two slots 27 which extend alongthe circumferental circle of the vertical axis V about a length whichcorresponds to an angle from 60 to 130 degrees of the circumferentialcircle of the vertical axis V. In particular, the slots 27 are arrangedin mirror symmetry relative to a central axis Z extending centrically inthe direction of the wheel tread of the caster 6 in the basic alignmentG. For example, as shown in FIG. 7b , each slot 30 extends about alength along the circumferental circle of the vertical axis V whichcorresponds to an angle of about 90 degrees.

The interior between the cover plate 11 and the saucer 9, which includesthe two magnets 15 a, 15 b, is preferably protected by a fold 13 a,which points towards the second magnet 15 b. Furthermore, the secondmagnet 15 b particularly is completely covered by a spacer 28 which isformed like a disc. The spacer 28 provides space between the firstmagnet 15 a and the second magnet 15 b so that the first magnet 15 a isnot magnetically attached to the second magnet 15 b when the firstmagnet 15 a is moved relative to the second magnet 15 b in the guide ofthe cover plate 11. Additionally, the second magnet 15 a is protected bythe spacer 28. Preferably, the spacer 28 is made of plastic. It can haveseveral openings which are placed on a circumferential circle of thevertical axis V in the spacer 28.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cover plate 11 can be mounted in the castermount 3, e. g. by screws or rivets 23 which extend through straps of thecover plate 11 and through openings of the caster mount.

According to the invention, a stop for the swivel caster 1 isfurthermore provided. The caster mount may here be connected to thestop, for example. The stop includes a blocking element which in ablocked position interacts in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting mannerwith a caster 6 and with the disc joint which connects the caster mount3 and the support plate 2 so as to be rotatable about the verticalrotation axis V, and in an unblocked position releases the caster 6 andthe disc joint. In particular, the stop is configured in a tripartitemanner and includes a cap which is moulded on the caster mount andextends along a part-region of the caster running wheel whichcorresponds to a part-radius of the caster 6, and furthermore includes alever which is guided in a cap clearance, and the movable blockingelement which is connected to the lever and which is configured as anelastic angular piece. The angular piece is thus actuatable by way ofthe lever.

In particular, the elastic angular piece extends along the cap. Theangular piece in the blocked position between a tilting axis of theactuating lever and the actuating lever is preferably jammed in such amanner that the angular piece, on the one hand, interacts in aforce-fitting and/or form-fitting manner with the mounting plate of thecaster 6 and, on the other hand, interacts in a form-fitting and/orforce-fitting manner with the caster 6. The tilting axis may be formedby a pin which connected to the cap, for example, wherein the tiltingaxis extends so as to be transverse to a line of movement of the runningsurface. In particular, the angular piece has an elastic finger which inthe blocked position by way of a rectangular finger tip pushes onto therunning surface of the caster. A lug which engages in a clearance of thelever is configured so as to be opposite the finger tip at the end sideof an extension of the finger. The lever and the lug in this way form anarticulation joint.

Furthermore preferably, the cover plate 11 is configured in such amanner that the latter exposes a region of the mounting plate 7 which inthe blocked position interacts with the stop in a force-fitting manner.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described exemplaryembodiments, but also includes all embodiments which in the context ofthe invention have a similar effect. It is explicitly stressed that theexemplary embodiments are not limited to all features in combination;rather, each single part-feature may also be individually relevant tothe invention, when detached from all other part-features. Furthermore,the invention to date is also not yet limited to the combination offeatures herein, but may be defined by any other arbitrary combinationof specific features of all disclosed individual features in total. Thismeans that in principle practically every individual feature describedin a principal embodiment may be omitted or be substituted by at leastone individual feature which has been mentioned in any other passage ofthe application, respectively.

While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be appreciated that the invention issusceptible to modification, variation and change without departing fromthe proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.

1. A swivel caster comprising a support plate for connection to acontainer, and furthermore comprising a caster mount having a casterwhich is rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis, wherein the castermount is connected to the support plate so as to be rotatable about avertical rotation axis, wherein at least one first magnet is connectedto the caster mount and at least one second magnet is connected to thesupport plate, wherein the first and second magnets are magnetized anddisposed so as to be mutually parallel including a gap in such a mannerthat in an alignment of the caster mount outside a defined basicalignment of the caster mount the first and second magnets interact insuch a manner that the caster mount swings into the basic alignment,wherein the caster mount has a cover plate which collectively with asaucer of the support plate and collectively with the mounting plateencloses an intermediate space for the first and second magnets, thecover plate has two legs which extend in the direction of the horizontalrotation axis of the caster, wherein each of the legs at a free endthereof that is remote from the cover plate is connected to the castermount via a connector.
 2. A swivel caster according to claim 1 furthercomprising, the first and second magnets are disposed in relation to oneanother and configured in such a manner that the first and secondmagnets in the basic alignment of the caster mount in the verticalrotation axis attract one another at a first maximum force and followingat least a partial rotation, in a common plane, repel one another at asecond maximum force.
 3. A swivel caster according to claim 1 furthercomprising, the first and second magnets extend so as to beperpendicular to the vertical rotation axis of the caster mount.
 4. Aswivel caster according to claim 1 further comprising, in the basicalignment of the caster mount the first magnet on a side thereof thatfaces the second magnet and extends so as to be transverse to thevertical rotation axis of the caster mount has a north pole and a southpole in contact therewith, and the second magnet on that face thereofthat faces the first magnet and extends so as to be transverse to thevertical rotation axis has a north pole, which is parallel with thevertical rotation axis and opposite to the south pole of the firstmagnet, and a south pole which is parallel with the vertical rotationaxis and opposite the north pole of the first magnet.
 5. A swivel casteraccording to claim 1 further comprising, each of the first and secondmagnets are formed from in each case of two part-magnets which aredisposed beside one another so as to be perpendicular to the verticalrotation axis, wherein the disposal of the north pole and of the southpole of the part-magnets extends in the direction of the verticalrotation axis, and that a first part-magnet in relation to a secondpart-magnet is disposed so as to be rotationally offset by 180° about anaxis which is perpendicular to the vertical rotation axis.
 6. A swivelcaster according to claim 1 further comprising, the first and secondmagnets and part-magnets forming the first or second magnets aredisposed about the vertical rotation axis so as to be point-symmetricaland or mirror-symmetrical.
 7. A swivel caster according to claim 1further comprising the support plate is connected to the saucer, and themounting plate forms a base area of the caster mount, wherein themounting plate is rotatably mounted between the saucer and the supportplate.
 8. A swivel caster according to claim 1 further comprising, thefirst magnet is disposed on a side of the cover plate that faces theintermediate space, and the second magnet is disposed on a side of thesaucer of the support plate that faces the intermediate space.
 9. Aswivel caster according to claim 1 further comprising, the legs areconfigured so as to be integral with the cover plate.
 10. A swivelcaster according to claim 1 further comprising, the legs, by way of thefree ends thereof which are remote from the cover plate, and the castersare connected to the caster mount via a common connector.
 11. A swivelcaster according to claim 1 further comprising, the connector forms anaxle of the caster, and the legs are additionally connected to thecaster mount via a securing element so as to be rotationally fixed inrelation to the horizontal rotation axis.
 12. A swivel caster accordingto claim 1 further comprising, the first magnet is mounted movably in aguide of the cover plate, the guide having a fastener which hold thefirst magnet movably relative to the second magnet, and the first magnetis fixable by the fastener to the cover plate.
 13. A swivel casteraccording claim 12 further comprising, the first magnet is mountedmovably in the guide of the cover plate and can be moved in thecircumferenctial direction of the vertical axis.
 14. A swivel casteraccording to claim 12 further comprising, a holder includes the firstmagnet in a form fitting manner and the holder is connected in at leasttwo sections to the guide of the cover plate.
 15. A swivel casteraccording to claim 12 further comprising, the guide includes two slotswhich extend within the cover plate along a section of a circumferentialcircle of the vertical axis.
 16. A swivel caster according to claim 1further comprising, the cover plate in each case between the legs has afold which is configured in the shape of a crescent and, which is bentin the direction towards the intermediate space.
 17. A swivel casteraccording to claim 1 further comprising, a stop which is connected tothe caster mount and in a blocked position interacts in a form-fittingor force-fitting manner with the caster and with a rotary joint whichconnects the caster mount and the support plate so as to be rotatableabout the vertical rotation axis, and in an unblocked position releasesthe caster and the joint.
 18. A swivel caster according to claim 17further comprising, the cover plate is configured as to expose a regionof the mounting plate, which in the blocked position interacts with thestop in a force-fitting manner.